First Winner of the Aprovecho A Mexican American Border Cookbook

First, I would like to congratulate the first winner (in a series of four) of the





Aprovecho A Mexican American Border Cookbook.

The lovely Julie Hession from Peanut Butter and Julie is the winner. Julie, I hope you enjoy reading and using the cookbook as much as I enjoyed putting it together. The book should be arriving to you shortly.

Next a big congratulations to Judge Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice and only the third woman on the court in its entire history. Watching the ceremony on CNN with her mother and brother by her side, her face reminded y of any one of a number of females in my family. But when it came to her voice, she’s a true New Yorker. Bien hecho Sonia. Felicidades.



Finally, you know I had mentioned that my computer crashed a couple of weeks ago. While I was able to backup a lot of my files (while in safe mode), I still lost some that were important to me. But I did manage to save one where I had made a note of having won an award from the wonderful Ms. Cucinista from The Working Lunch Blog. It’s a beautiful award and I want to thank her from the bottom of my heart. Please visit her blog and check out the wonderful recipes she has for you.


Meanwhile I would love to forward this award onto Tina from Mommy’s Kitchen. I love Tina’s way of thinking when it comes to food. It’s all prepared in a down-home manner, very Southern-style. It’s very much comfort food, I LOVE it. So, Ms. Tina (neighbor) for all the wonderful recipes you’ve shared with us, here’s to you. You rock my friend.

Awards and a Gift

Gloria Chadwick sent me her book, “Zen Coffee: A Guide to Mindful Meditation”. I read it over the course of a couple of nights. Then I went back and read it again. Sometimes it takes a friend to point out that what you’re doing isn’t always wrong or misguided: simply unfocused.

This simple, yet insightful book describes the process of equating a mindful-meditative moment with your private time, like savoring a delicious cup of java. Of course if you prefer tea or hot chocolate this works as well. It was not a problem for me since I enjoy a cup(s) of each everyday.

What I hadn’t realized was that I was already enjoying my meditative moments, my bits of reflection while delighting in my favorite beverage of the moment. I love to take time to meditate in the evening, right before going to bed. I look forward to this quite time, letting go of all the days’ ordeals both good and bad. It helps me put things in perspective without the emotional burden that often disallows me to think clearly. I love listening to music as I meditate. What I listen to is Sean Washburn’s “Wave Mantra”.

Reading Gloria’s book helped me realize that I was fretting for no viable reason, waiting anxiously for my quite time with Mr. Washburn’s music. I could use my bits of time throughout the day as I enjoyed my perfectly brewed and delicious cup of coffee or tea to quite my mind and allow the harsher emotions of the day to pass through me and out of me. So instead of a build up of confusion and frustration, I could easily be mindful of my inner peace and ability to cope with the experiences of the day.

Bob and I have been going through a rough patch lately. NO, not with each other. The economic problems that so many people have been suffering touched upon us. At Christmas no less. But with the New Year, our situation has much improved and we’re back on track. I am abundantly grateful to God and the universe as well as friends and family for allowing me to wallow in my mind as the darkness passed. I am also grateful to Gloria for sending me this book. She had the acumen to understand that I was still here, but hidden away. I love you my friend.

I’ve also accumulated three awards during this time. Foodies have an uncanny sense about bequeathing these loving awards just at the right time. I ask that you all forgive me for not acknowledging these loving acts of kindness while I wallowed inside my head.


Megan at Megan’s Munchies gave me the “Uber Amazing Blog Award”. Thank you sweetie. It’s a very pretty award and I cherish it.







Ivy at Kopiaste gave me the Kreative Blogger Award. Ivy, my friend. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You have a heart of gold with all the beautiful work you do. Thank you.









Chef T at chefbliss.com presented me with “I made your recipe and loved it! Award”. Thank you so much. You really made my day.









Why do I blog? I blog to share my passion with like-minded people who have a similar interest. I’m not here to compete, judge, or sing my own praises. Cooking and baking have always put a smile on my face. In blogging, I have found other foodies who feel the same way. These foodies have easily become friends. Caring, passionate, talented and creative women and men who love who they are and what they do and want to share it with others.

In opening our hearts to others with our passions, we also open up our lives for others to witness. Sometimes this is difficult, especially if you tend to be a private person. But there is always the consolation of knowing that a true foodie friend will always understand you; always accept you; and always be there for you when you need a friend.

For all the friends I have made through the blogosphere, I wish you the best that life can offer. I wish you love, health, joy and prosperity.

FOODIES ROCK!!

Happy Almost Halloween Everyone

I realize I haven’t posted much in the last week. Life gave me lemons and I couldn’t find the sugar to make the lemonade. But I have now, and all is rosy again.

During this time, 3 beautiful foodie buddies have bestowed 3 beautiful blogging awards to this blog. I am very humbled and appreciative. I hereby promise to keep extra sugar on-hand to make any further lemonade life feels a need to present to me. I also promise to keep up with my passion of blogging, writing, cooking, baking and staying in contact with my cyber friends.






My first award comes from VG from My Household Capers. VG is an amazing woman whose blog I love to read not only to learn and share in her experiences in cooking but for those adorable quotes she puts on her blog. I love those. Sometimes it’s just the right words that will make your day. Thank you VG for your love and kindness.

This award will now be bestowed to the following people:
1. Joan from Foodalogue
2. Fabby from Muffins, Cupcakes y Mas
3. Prudence from the Glass Slipper Cakery


The second award comes from my good friend Arlene from The Food of Love. I fantasize about being Arlene, living in a log cabin in the middle of the woods. I see her life as one big romance novel. Picture this: Winter, snow, fireplace, spiked hot chocolate and holding hands with your true love. Not only is she an incredible cook, she’s probably writing her memoirs that we will all certainly rush to buy just to share in the illusion of having been there. I think the name of her blog says it all. Relish your life my dear friend. There are times when I wish I could trade place with you and live among nature. I thank you for this award.


This award will now go to:
1. Gloria from Cookbook Cuisine
2. Adam from Baking with Dynamite
3. Ben from What’s Cooking?


Leslie at Menu Maker Mom presented the third and final award. Leslie is such a hard working mom. Not only is she a great cook and friend, but also toils at preparing weekly menu suggestions that we can all use to save us a little bit of time. We all need that kind of help every once in a while. As much as we love our passion of being foodies, sometimes life gets in the way of planning ahead. We find ourselves getting ready to go grocery shopping and have no idea what to plan for the weekly meals for our hard working families. This is where Leslie comes in (to the rescue—Super Leslie!). Her recommendations are sensible and frugal. Can’t go wrong with that. Leslie you’re a sweetheart. We all thank you for your hard work and I thank you for this award.

This award goes to:
1. Lori from The Recipe Girl
2. Vanessa from 3 Rs Cakes and Cupcakes
3. Maria from Kali Orexi

Each of these 9 blogs has an excellence in their presentation, material, appearance and persona. I appreciate each and every one of them for all I’ve learned just by reading and visiting their blogs. They are caring, witty, loving, and knowledgeable experts in their own field of cooking and baking and valuable information they have to share with the rest of us foodies. Please visit each one and congratulate them for a job well done.


Hasta luego mis querido amigos. I’m preparing the Sugar Skulls (Alfeñique) for my Friday post. Halloween is coming…so is Dia de los Muertos. You can’t let this day go by without making your own sugar skulls. I will also share with you some great information about Jose Guadalupe Posada whose paintings centered around Dia de Los Muertos. Scary, very scary, but traditional.

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Mexican Word of the day: JUICY

Hey vato tell me if juicy the cops!

Award and Spotlight

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Nikky from Nik Snacks presented this award to my blog. I love Nikki. She is such a creative foodie. She cooks, she works, she's on TV, she writes, she does anything and everything. I have absolutely no doubt that Nikki will have her own show one day. She's ambitious and she's going places. It's a wonder she ever has anytime to sit back and put her feet up after a long day. Congratulations on being such a great blogger, foodie and friend, Nikki. We all love you. Please visit Nikki at her blog and try and keep up with her. She goes a mile a minute, smiling all the while.

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S P O T L I G H T
Arlene from The Food of Love hit the spotlight on one of my recipes a few days ago. I was floored! The recipe, Caldo de Albondigas, is a simple soup that my mother used to prepare for my brothers and me when we were little, during the fall and winter months. Well, Arlene liked it enough to showcase it on her blog - thank you sweetie. This recipe is very special to me. Arlene is a retired school administrator who lives in a log cabin. I am so jealous. The whole idea of living alongside nature is so romantic that I'm sure we all wish we could trade places with Arlene every once in a while. Visit Arlene at her blog and say hello and check out her wonderful recipes.